Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible ends production

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There were no eulogies. No bagpipes were played or honor-guard gunshots fired. Few paid any notice, but on December 21, the Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible passed quietly into the night and was buried. And we doubt many will miss it.

The axing of the ragtop PT is part of the phasing-out of several Chrysler LLC products devised by its new owners in order to cut costs. Earlier we brought you the news that the Chrysler Crossfire ceased production in Germany. Before that, the Chrysler Pacifica ended its lifecycle in November. Although originally only the convertible version of the PT Cruiser was scheduled for execution, reports later suggested that the regular hard-top wagon version could also be discontinued.

While those Chryslers likewise won't be terribly missed, except by small pockets of devoted enthusiasts, the next to lie under the Chrysler LLC guillotine will be the Dodge Magnum, which is being discontinued in March. The gonzo wagon dropped 25% in sales in 2007 over the previous year. As Inside Line points out, however, if you're still keen on getting a Magnum (or a PT convertible, for that matter), some good deals are likely to be had from local dealers eager to sell the last remnants of a dying breed.

Among the various iterations of the Magnum were this striking version in police livery, and a top-of-the-line Magnum SRT8 that boasted a Dodge a 425-horsepower 6.1-liter Hemi V8.